Learning Forward and partners have submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Education recommending changes in Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) regulations and guidelines that would help states and districts implement effective professional learning. Recommendations include: Expressly ensure that states (and districts) align their strategies for professional development to the definition in ESSA, and focus on building systems of professional learning. Ask states to establish guardrails for local consolidated planning requirements. Support states and districts in building educators’ capacity and skill to effectively implement evidence-based strategies in school improvement. Provide adequate time for states to comprehensively define their approach to professional learning through their consolidated plan application. “Professional learning is critical to achieving ESSA’s goals of equity and excellence,” the letter states. “As a